American character actor (1891–1968)
Harry V. Cheshire (August 16, 1891 – June 16, 1968), originally from
Emporia, Kansas ,
[1] was an American
character actor who appeared in over 100 films, mostly playing small roles.
[2] He was also a stage actor
[3] and performed on a St. Louis radio station's musical program.
[1] He may be best known for playing Judge Ben Wiley on
Buffalo Bill, Jr.
[4]
Early career
Cheshire began his show business career in 1908, entertaining the audience between reels of short silent movies at the Old Nickelodeon Theater in
Kansas City .
[5] He was active in stage work with the Hi Jinks Company and Liberty Players acting troupes
[6] during the 1920s and 1930s.
[3]
He acquired the nickname Pappy after appearing as Pappy Cheshire with his Hilly Billy Band
[1] on the St. Louis radio station
KMOX .
[7]
Film and television work
Cheshire's first film role was as Pappy Cheshire in the 1940
Republic Pictures ' musical
Barnyard Follies .
[1] He was the minister who marries George Bailey (
James Stewart ) and Mary Hatch (
Donna Reed ) in
It's a Wonderful Life , and played small-town judges in the westerns
Sioux City Sue ,
The Fabulous Texan and
Carbine Williams .
[2] He played Doctor Gray in
Adventures of Gallant Bess .
[8] In 1955, during a two-week break from filming episodes of the television series
Buffalo Bill, Jr. , Cheshire was able to fit in a supporting role in the film
Soldier of Fortune .
[9]
In addition to playing judges in films, Cheshire also played characters following the same occupation on two television series. From 1955 - 1956 he was Judge "Fair and Square" Ben Wiley in the
syndicated western
television series ,
Buffalo Bill, Jr. .
[10] From 1958-1962 he was Judge Traeger in episodes of the
Lawman .
[2]
He guest starred in other television programs, including
The Lone Ranger ,
Annie Oakley ,
The Gene Autry Show ,
[2]
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show ,
[3]
I Love Lucy and
The Red Skelton Show .
[1]
One writer stated that Cheshire had the ability "to appear genial and grumpy at the same time."
[2]
Personal life
Harry Cheshire was married to Myrtle Cheshire.
[3] They had two children, son Harry Jr. and daughter Leona, and in February 1968 the couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
[1] Cheshire died in 1968. He is interred at
Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the
Hollywood Hills of
Los Angeles .
[11]
Selected filmography
Barnyard Follies (1940) - Pappy
Hi, Neighbor (1942) - Professor Edgar Boggs
Swing Your Partner (1943) - Harry 'Pappy' Cheshire
O, My Darling Clementine (1943) - 'Pappy' Cheshire
Sing, Neighbor, Sing (1944) - Dean Cheshire
Drifting Along (1946) - Bart Holden (uncredited)
Smooth as Silk (1946) - Wolcott
Traffic in Crime (1946) - Dan Marlowe
Big Town (1946) - Police Chief Masters (uncredited)
If I'm Lucky (1946) - Phil Gargan, State Engineer (uncredited)
Child of Divorce (1946) - Judge
Affairs of Geraldine (1946) - Judge Fricke
Sioux City Sue (1946) - Mayor Tussie of Whispering Rock (uncredited)
The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) - Minister at Wedding (uncredited)
Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946) - Jules Sparkle (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - Dr. Campbell (uncredited)
The Luckiest Guy in the World (1947, Short) - Mr. Mossley
The Pilgrim Lady (1947) - Dr. Bekins
Code of the West (1947) - Judge Culver (uncredited)
Shoot to Kill (1947) - Mike Blake
Lost Honeymoon (1947) - Judge Henderson (uncredited)
Danger Street (1947) - Commissioner (uncredited)
The Homestretch (1947) - Colonel Albright (uncredited)
Sport of Kings (1947) - Theodore McKeogh
Springtime in the Sierras (1947) - Cap Foster
The Hucksters (1947) - Joe Lorrison, Lawyer (uncredited)
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now (1947) - Stage Manager (uncredited)
Mother Wore Tights (1947) - Minister (uncredited)
Nightmare Alley (1947) - Mr. Prescott (uncredited)
The Invisible Wall (1947) - Eugene Hamilton
The Fabulous Texan (1947) - Judge Gavin (uncredited)
Her Husband's Affairs (1947) - Mayor Jim Dandy Harker (uncredited)
The Flame (1947) - The Minister
The Tender Years (1948) - Sheriff Fred Ackley
Slippy McGee (1948) - Dr. Moore
Here Comes Trouble (1948) - Judge J.J. Bellinger (uncredited)
Mr. Reckless (1948) - Doctor at Wedding (uncredited)
Ruthless (1948) - Lawyer Nevin (uncredited)
Sixteen Fathoms Deep (1948) - Uncle Mike
The Babe Ruth Story (1948) - Cap Huston (uncredited)
Northwest Stampede (1948) - Rodeo Judge (uncredited)
Night Wind (1948) - Judge Thorgeson (uncredited)
For the Love of Mary (1948) - Colonel Hedley
Moonrise (1948) - J.B. Sykes
Incident (1948) - T.A. Hartley
Racing Luck (1948) - Radcliffe Malone
Smoky Mountain Melody (1948) - Doc Moffitt
Adventures of Gallant Bess (1948) - Dr. Gray
The Lucky Stiff (1949) - Prison Warden (uncredited)
The Clay Pigeon (1949) - Doctor (uncredited)
Riders of the Whistling Pines (1949) - Dr. Daniel Chadwick
Impact (1949) - Irene's Attorney
Ma and Pa Kettle (1949) - Fletcher (uncredited)
It Happens Every Spring (1949) - Team Doctor X-Raying King's Hand (uncredited)
Air Hostess (1949) - Dr. Lee
Anna Lucasta (1949) - Minister (uncredited)
Sand (1949) - Logan (uncredited)
Brimstone (1949) - Calvin Willis
Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) - Leo Hopkins (uncredited)
The Woman on Pier 13 (1949) - J. Francis Cornwall
Fighting Man of the Plains (1949) - Lanyard
Chicago Deadline (1949) - Minister (uncredited)
Bride for Sale (1949) - Haskins (uncredited)
The Lady Takes a Sailor (1949) - Judge Vardon (uncredited)
Paid in Full (1950) - Minister (uncredited)
Girls' School (1950) - Calhoun Robie
A Woman of Distinction (1950) - Train Steward (uncredited)
Square Dance Katy (1950) - Kimbrough
The Arizona Cowboy (1950) - David Carson
No Sad Songs for Me (1950) - Mel Fenelly (uncredited)
Lucky Losers (1950) - John W. 'Chick' Martin
County Fair (1950) - Auctioneer
September Affair (1950) - Jim (uncredited)
Lonely Heart Bandits (1950) - Sheriff Polk
Chain Gang (1950) - Henry 'Pop' O'Donnell
Let's Dance (1950) - Man (uncredited)
Again... Pioneers (1950) - Colonel Garnett
The Flying Missile (1950) - First Senator (uncredited)
The Company She Keeps (1951) - Cliff Martin, Larry's Boss (uncredited)
Blue Blood (1951) - McArthur
Thunder in God's Country (1951) - Mayor Larkin
As Young as You Feel (1951) - Chamber of Commerce President (uncredited)
Rhubarb (1951) - Mr. Seegle, Board Member (uncredited)
Bannerline (1951) - Mayor Ducat (uncredited)
The Family Secret (1951) - Dr. Black, Coroner (uncredited)
Here Come the Nelsons (1952) - Bronco Riding Event Announcer (uncredited)
Phone Call from a Stranger (1952) - Dr. Luther Fletcher (uncredited)
Just This Once (1952) - Prouty, Creditor (uncredited)
Flesh and Fury (1952) - Dr. Gundling (uncredited)
Carbine Williams (1952) - Judge Kerr (uncredited)
The Sniper (1952) - Mayor (uncredited)
Paula (1952) - Gentleman in Park (uncredited)
Washington Story (1952) - Minor Role (uncredited)
Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair (1952) - Pastor (uncredited)
Woman of the North Country (1952) - Bystander (uncredited)
Dreamboat (1952) - Macintosh (uncredited)
Ride the Man Down (1952) - Rancher (uncredited)
Cry of the Hunted (1953) - Doctor (uncredited)
Latin Lovers (1953) - Tom Marston, Board Member (uncredited)
Devil's Canyon (1953) - Happy, the Bartender (uncredited)
Jack Slade (1953) - Mr. Hill (uncredited)
Escape from Fort Bravo (1953) - Chaplain (uncredited)
Pride of the Blue Grass (1954) - Hunter
Dangerous Mission (1954) - Mr. Elster
Fireman Save My Child (1954) - Commissioner Spencer
Phffft (1954) - Nina's Divorce Lawyer (uncredited)
The Seven Little Foys (1955) - Stage Doorman at 'Iroquois' (uncredited)
The First Traveling Saleslady (1956) - Judge Benson
The Boss (1956) - Governor Beck (uncredited)
The Restless Breed (1957) - Mayor Johnson
Loving You (1957) - Mayor (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey (1957) - James Elliott
I Married a Woman (1958) - Texan at Phone Booth (uncredited)
The Big Country (1958) - Party Guest (uncredited)
Colgate Theatre (1958) (Season 1 Episode 8: "If You Knew Tomorrow")
Don't Give Up the Ship (1959) - Judge Whipple, Wedding Guest with Cake in Hat (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1960) (Season 6 Episode 1: "Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat") - Mr. Gorman (uncredited)
Heller in Pink Tights (1960) - Poker Player (uncredited)
From the Terrace (1960) - Partner (uncredited)
Let's Make Love (1960) - Amanda's Father (uncredited)
The Errand Boy (1961) - Ulysses Paramutual (uncredited)
The Patsy (1964) - Police Sergeant (uncredited) (final film role)
References
^
a
b
c
d
e
f
Yvonne Boynton, Westchester Whirl, Evening Vanguard , June 20, 1968, page 5
^
a
b
c
d
e
Douglas Brode, Shooting Stars of the Small Screen , pages 81-82, University of Texas Press, 2009
^
a
b
c
d
About Town, The Kansas City Times , June 29, 1968, page 45
^
47 Years a Showman, Sullivan Tri-County News (Sullivan, Missouri), November 10, 1955, page 6
^
'Pappy' a Real Vet, Los Angeles Mirror , September 29, 1955, page 34
^
"Former Hi Jinks Player Rejoins Liberty Company" . The Daily Oklahoman . Oklahoma, Oklahoma City. June 25, 1922. p. 22. Retrieved September 9, 2018 – via
Newspapers.com .
^
Two Unscheduled Thrills at Rodeo, St. Louis Post-Dispatch , August 22, 1956, page 20
^
B'llyn Strand Shows Latest 'Gallant Bess', Daily News , October 23, 1948, page 322
^
Change of Scenery, The Richmond News Leader , May 28, 1955, page 20
^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 144.
ISBN
978-0-7864-6477-7 .
^ Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons , 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
External links